Firearm.



A PATENTED DBO. 19, 1905. J. M. EROWNING.

FIRERM.

APPLICATION YILED MAYQS, w05.,

SHEEI'I NTED DEG. l9y 1905.

PATE M. bRGWNI'IG.

EABM.

UNTED STATES JOHN M, BROVVNING, GF OGDNN, UTAH.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed Illa-)'25, 1905. Serial No 262,205.

T 0 all whom, it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M, BRowNiNG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which'theiollowing is aspeciiication, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to automatic firearms of that description inwhich the several operations-such as the opening ofthe breech afterfiring a shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge-shell, the cooking ofthe hammer, the presentation and introduction of a loaded cartridge tothe chamber of the barrel, and the closing and locking of the breech-areautomatically effected through or by the energy of the recoil of thebreech-block or that part which at the time of firing the shot closesthe breech of the barrel, and the invention more especially relates tofirearms of this description in which in liring the barrel and thebreech-block are interlocked and re- .c'oil some distance together, andduring this rearward movement the barrel has another @movement im artedto it, whereby it is unlocked from t e breech-block, and after itsrelease the movements of the barrel are arrested, while the'breech-block continues to recoil until the breech is fully opened and inwhichduriii'g the opening movement of the breech-block energy is storedin a spring, the reaction of which is utilized to effect the return orclosing movement of the breechblock. lt is. essential for the pro eroperation of irearms of this class that the breechblock and the partsconnected and moving with it should be made as heavy as is practical, sothat it may store a maximum amount.

of energy inthe short period or" time during .rhiohon firing therearward pressure of the owder-gases in the barrel acts upon themech-block and initiates itsrecoil, andv so that the breech block maycontinue to rccoilA under its momentum alone to complete the opening ofthe breech and the compression4 of the reaction -spring after thegaspressure has ceased because relieved by the 5o exit of the bulletfrom the barrel. v On account of the limited total weight practical fora small-arm', andespecially for a pistol, it is necessary in order to beable to give a maximum weight to the breech blockthat the other parts ofthe arm be constructed as light as possible. This is especiallyimportant regarding the barrel of this class of arms, for the additionalreason that at the commencing of the recoil the light barrel may readilyyield to and move earward with the breechblock while it remainsinterlocked therewith and in order that when unlocked from thebreech-block and the movementsof the barrel are arrested the stresscaused by this sudden stopping may not be too great to be absorbedwithout injury to either the barrel or the frame of the arm. theserelations as to their weight between the breech-block and the barrelremains the same'when the caliber and weight of the projectile and theowder charge are increased; but experience as shown that in a small-armof this class of/large caliber intended to tire powerful charges 'oipowderthe additional strength 're uired in the barrel in its con'-nections wit and attachment to the frame,

andes ecially in the parts of the barrel and 1frame y which themovements of` the one upon the other are arrested, 1s so much greater inproportion to theweight of these parts that the constructions heretoforeused in arms of this class of smaller caliber'cam" not be relied upon asperfectly safe.

The importance of One object of the present invention is to f provide ina rearm-of this classe simple but strong and reliable means ofattachment and connection between the barrel and thestationary frame ofthe arm which shall'leave the barrel free to recoil a limiteddistan'ceinterlocked with the breech-block and which shall during this rearwardmovement guide the barrel and impart to it at the same time anothermovement by which it will be unlocked from the breech-block and whichshall atthe last of .he return or forward move-- ment of the`breech-block guide the barrel while itis moved forward by the breech:block and` impart to it another movement by which thebarrel and thebreech-block will be interlocked when they arrive-at the forward firingposition.

Another object of the invention is to orovide in a firearm of this classa means which shall positively limit the rearward movement of the barrelwith the breech-block, arrest the movements ofthe barrel as soon as thesame has become unlocked from, the breech-block, and which shall beadapted in form and in strength to transmit to the frame the stress dueto the sudden arrest of the movements o1c the barrel without injuryresulting therefrom to either the barrel or the frame.

IOC

eatin Another object of the invention is to provide 'firearm of thisclass a simple but strong' and reliable means for securingr thehreecli-hlock on the frame of the arm hydposiry limiting the movementsof the loreechlilo-cir on lthe frame and for causing the hreech-hlocll oengaged hy the reaction- L,j ont whiclivshall allow the breechhlocl; toheat will and read-ily disengaged from. the 'reaction-spring and beremovable.

troni the 'frarne witllout requiring the use of any tools for itsdisengagement and removal,

These objects are attainedV oy rnechanisni of unipi/e and practicalconstruction, which is left-hand side elevation orp the pistol with thebreech closed, hut showiin;r the Tbreech- 5r om, .1 er slide ano. t -eloi vaio por tion or the frame 1n section and the lower portion or thegrip as o "broken awrey. Eig. 2 1s a View sinnlar i, but with thebreech-slide in its open rd posi n. 3 represents a vertif1/Inweb 1, r f

tir-e calici on tno line 3 3 ard. 43g. 3u repr sents non oi' the lrarneon the oolnng rearward. Fig. i

lA L- J l i cross-section through the hr fnel, and iraine on the lineide, h looking rearward, with the barre. in position locked to thebreech-slide, exposing to view the stopfl'ionlders; on the barrel vandon the frame.

5 cnresents side elevation of the harrel wit7m a `Portion oi' the framein section, ion/ing ation in the connection hc- -Pn the harrel and theiframe. Figs. and

another modification of the conen `harrel and tho'lfrainc of -irepresents a side elevation el r id section ol the orv-.fard porf oi thebreech-slide with r represents a crossin, roar of the iront collar inthe pistol .represented in drawings barrel. Zi is attached to the topol' the frarne a at the iront hv lng o', which projects fglownward 4fromthe barrel near the nrw/zic. The race ofthe lug,r inclines l wnward andrearward and engages a corresoondingly-inclir :d surface o under the topcient, perfectly safe, and not liable to get soeces of the Aforward partci the frame, intcrloclis the barrel with. the frame, and when thebarrel is moved rearward 'forces the forward end at the saine time toinove downward toward the frame. At its rear end the barrel b hasanother dependingr lug Zr'. This is divided by a central longitudinalgroove, in which one end of the linhy b is littcd and pivotally attachedto the barrel by a transverse pin. The lower end ol" the link b ispivotally secured to the frame by a similar pin. Vfhen the barrel is 'inthe 'forward :firing position7 the link lf, standing nearly vertically,holds the barrel above the top of' thc 'freine and allows it to inoverearward. Duringthe rearward Inovernent the link causes the rear end ofthe harrol to nieve downward toward the frame. Thus the inclined lug atthe front and the link b3 at the rear impart to the harrcl'at bothextremities substantially the same double movement. On the top of theframe the breech-slide c is fitted to slide rearward 'and forward Therear part ol the breech-slide Aforms the breech-bolt cf, adapted toclose the chamber of the barrel, and the forward part c? of thebrocoli-.slide extends in semituhular forni and incloses the barrel. Thesides o'l the breech-slideoverlap those ol the frame. Longitudinal ri hsand grooves on the slide engaging corresponding grooves and ribs on thetrarne serve to hold the Ybreech-slide to the Vrame and to guide itthereon. The barrel is provi-:led on the lop with locking-ribs b5, andthe hrcech-slide .has corresponding rccesses ci", whereinv thel'nfeech-slidc and the barrel are secure@7 interloeked when in theJforward tiring position. YWhen on liring a shot the hreech-slidc nievesrcmward under the energy ol recoil and draws the barrel rearward, thesin'iultaneons downward movement oi the harrel, due to the inclinedlug,r b and to the link i5", causes the disengagement olI thelocking-ribs lr" :fri/nn the recesses c5 and allows the rearwardmovement of the barrel to he arrested, while that of the breech-slidecontinues, thus opening the hreech.

. Beneath the hai-rel 'the reaction-sprinr e is seated in a longitudinalchamber a2 in the liran e a, and a transverse key c is inserted thrmighrectangular rec! es in the sides of the breech-slice and passestransversely through the anlhor (1 in the lrarne, normally projo ngi.slightly from each side of the breech-slide. A. longitudinal slot (L3through thclrainc allowstho lacy c to travel lreelytherein. 'ille rearend ol the slot 21:l lornisnin abutment for the key, positively limitsthe rearward nlovonient of the breechslide on the traine, and preventsthe breechslide from lluving; hack from the frame.

`l1rough the lrcy c" thc roaction-spring e acts upon the weeen-slide toreturn it and the breech-holt to tl: forward closed position after therecoil has moved them to the rear. The rear end or' tnis spring e hearsagainst the IOO IOS

above and clear of the frame; but as the barrel moves rearward with thebreech-slide and simultaneously moves toward the frame the ribs bgradually enter the recesses (2, until when the barrel is released fromthe breechslide the ribs o are fully seated in the recesses a", F ig. 2,and further movement of the barrel is positively stopped without anystra-in being thrown upon the means of attachment and guidance of thebarrel. The ribs b are located at the strongest part of the barrel andare capable of sustaining the shock without injury to the barrel, whilethey positively proteet the lugs b and b2 at the weaker extremities otthc barrel from having to bear any part of the stress.

To enable the key c3 to be at will and readily withdrawn from the frameand the breechslide, and thereby to disengage the breechslide from thereaction-spring, and to enable the slide and the spring to be removedfrom;

the frame, the head e2 of the piston e is provided with a stem e3, whichprojects forward suiciently to stand at the open front end of the tramewhen the breech-slide, the key c, and the piston e. are in the forwardclosed position. The front end of the stem e3 is increased in diameterand is knurled to form a convenient hold by which rearward pressure maybe exerted upon it and the piston e sufficiently to overcome the tensionof the reaction-springe and to forceback the pistonhead e2 out of therecess in the key c3. Thus released the key c3 maybe readily withdrawn,thereby enabling the breech-slide and the reaction-spring to be removedwithout requiring the use of an f tools.

It will be evi ent that the piston e might be dispensed with, ifdesired, the forward terminal coil of the .spring eI taking the place ofthe piston-head in the recess of the key and serving as a latch `for thekey, and from the coil forward a. straight portion of the wire of whichthe spring is formed extending at right angles to the coil and below thekey to the front of the fra1ne,by means oi' which the spring may bepressed back to release the key; but l prefer the use of the piston, asshow-n and described, This arrangement while equally elective is muchsimpler and lessexpensive than are either of those shown and describedfor accomplishing1 the same objects in my prior patents covering similariirearms,-No. 580,924, dated April 20, 1897, and No. 708,794, datedSeptember' Q, 1902. In the arms shown and described in these patents inboth cases. a plug a, closes the front end of the seat of thereactionspring in the frame, and a pin a", fitted transversely throughthe frame and the plug, secures the plug in its place in the frame. Inthe lirst of the patents referred to the breech-slide must be drawnrearward anda pin inserted thro ugh a hole in the bottom of the frame tointercept the piston and the reaction-spring and to soeces hold themback when the breech-slide is returned forward before the transverse keycan be released and withdrawn. in the later patent referred to the frontplugas is fitted for a slight lengthwise movement and carries a rodextending trom its rear, which when the plug is pressed. rearward forcesback the piston and the spring, and thus releases the key. in thepresent improved construe-- tion both the front plug and the pinsecuring it in the frame are dispensed with, thus making it simpler andless expensive and lightening the front end of the arm and facilitatingthe assembling of the arm and the taking it apart.

lt will be evident that various features of this invention maybeemployed. independently oi the others and in firearms of a diiierentkind from that which l have described herein and that various changes in'form and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

lll/'hat l claim, and desire te secure-'foy Let-- ters Patent, is-v- 1.In' a fire-arm the combination with the frame having a transverse reciof a barrel connected at the breech end 'itli said trarne for a limitedmovement in the direction of its length and in the direction toward theframed, said barrel carrying near the breech end a stop-shoulder forentering the recess in said trame by the movement ol'Y said barreltoward the frame, whereby the movements of the barrel are arrested andthe impact thereof transmitted to said frame at tl'ie strongest part thebarrel, substantially a. specilied,

v 2. in a. lirearm, the eon'ibination with a frame of a barrel, aninclined lug connection between said barrel and said tranne, wher saidbarrel may move lengthwise and toward and from said frame, a transverserecess in said .frame and a stop-shoulder on said barrei forinterlocking said barrel and said :frame by the movement of said barrelto rd sai-:l frame, substantially shown and described.

ln a firearm, the eombinaticnfi with a frame having adpransverse recess,or a barrel having an `integral inclined lug connecting said barrel withsaid frame to have a lengthwise movement and a movement toward and fromsaid trame, a stop-shffiulder on said barrel ior entering the recess insaid trame by the movement oi"-said barrel tov-.fard said traine, andmeans for limiting the movement. of said barrel from said frame.

4. ln a firearm, the combination with trame having a trans v erserecess, and a breech block mounted to slide uponsaid frame and having alocking-recess, of a barrel comieeted at the breech 4end with said framefor a limited movement thereon 'lengthwise and to ward and from saidtraine, a locking-rib carried by said barrel and caused by the movementthereorn toward and romsaid frame to release l OG YZO

scenes andto en ege tlielocking-rece'ssof seidbreeeln 1 6. ln a,ileermfthe combination with s block, an a stop-shoulder on said barrelnear frame havin the breech end caused by the movement thereof.zlengthwise and toward seid frame to enter therecess in said frame,substantially as ani for the purpose specified.

5. In s firenrrn, the combination with a,

` frame and e breech block -sliding on said frame, said freine having etransverse recess and said breech-block havin e' transverse groove, of sbarrel, en inclined -ug connection between-said barrel and seid freine,whereby said barrel may move lengthwise and toward and from seid frame,transverse ribs projecting from opposite sides f seid barrel, for in-vterlocking seid barrel With said breech-block by the movement of seidbarrel from seid frame, and-for interlocking sani barrel with said remeby the movement of seid barrel toward seid frame.

0 s transverse recess, of aber-rel attached at tlle breechend and neertho mus zle to seid fre-Ine for a, limited movement thereon lengthwiseand toward and romssid trame,v e, stop-shoulder on seid barrel lccetedbetween said attachments and unconnectef;

therewith, for entering seid recess in the the iznuzle of said barrel,snbstentislly esl shown and speciecl.

' This specification signed end witnessed this

